Design for a movement, not a moment

Arren Williams June 9, 2020

I’ve been quiet for the last week, taking time to step back, check my privilege and ask how the ugliness of racism affects the design world (it does), and how I can work to become actively anti-racist.

People I follow and admire on Instagram asked a simple question - Why don't I know more black designers? And then I reflected on the fact that since the blog has been up and running again, I haven’t featured one designer of colour. Not one.

I must do better, and will be working within the design community to make space for BIPOC creatives, to discover and celebrate new and talented voices, and be part of positive change within the industry I love.

Follow, donate to and support these groups, and hire their talents for your projects -

Black Artists + Designers Guild

Black Interior Designers Network

Black Canadian Designers

And, since it can’t be said enough - #BlackLivesMatter

Cheers, Arren

Gobsmacked is such a lovely word, meaning the feeling of intense surprise. To me it’s a good thing, since it means I was stopped in my tracks by something so utterly fab I’m practically speechless.

That word is a perfect fit for this room by interior designer Rodney Lawrence, in a Tribeca loft designed by him for a young collector. While much of the loft is bright and white, the private spaces revel in rich, saturated colours. Here de Gournay’s stunning Whistler Peacocks gold-on-silk wallpaper definitely does the trick, set alongside a low and louche velvet sectional and agate print cushions.

Scroll down and you’ll see Lawrence’s passion for art history and contemporary design blend seamlessly in the space he created for the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse. It’s another showstopper for sure. You’ll note the perfectly placed art by Omar Chacon, Patrick Carrara, Sam Still and Georges Noël is not an afterthought, they carry the same weight and importance as the rest of the furnishings in the room. Love.

Thanks to Jordan and Russell at 2LG Studio, I discovered the work of young designer, Mac Collins whose award winning Iklwa chair is a definite design classic.

Just. Look. At. It.

Collins describes this standout chair perfectly on his website - “Drawing inspiration from his African Cultural heritage, Mac has created a furniture piece which is in tune with the ideas of Afrocentrism and Afrofuturism. Through a composition of powerful, spear-like forms, an encompassing backrest and a vivid, ultramarine hue, the designer has created a visually intense object designed to dominate and overwhelm its surroundings.”

Up next for Collins? A collab on seating with Benchmark furniture.

I love the work of illustrator and animator Aurélia Durand - It’s graphic, direct and political.

Snap up her Black Lives Matter poster here, your walls will thank you.

Plus, I’ve added This Book Is Anti-Racist to my reading list. Written by anti-bias and anti-racist educator Tiffany Jewell, the 20 lessons within are illustrated by Durand. You’ll find it on Amazon, but please do support your independent bookstore to pick up a copy. Speaking of support, through the month of June the publisher, Quarto Group, is donating 100% of their proceeds to Black Lives Matter and Color of Change.

See you later!

Arren July 20, 2011

Hey guys, so it's a dual sad/exciting day around here...

On the incredibly exciting side of things, my new job has been announced - I'm the Creative Director of Home Fashions for The Bay. And on the sad side, it's time to say buh-bye for now to the blog. It'll stay up, though I'll probably have to switch off all the comments (boy, those spam commenters are a giant pain!), but I just wanted to thank everyone for all their amazing support over the past few years of my online adventure. And stay tuned, since I'm sure I'll be back online soon with my new gig!

Thanks again, and I'm leaving you with a lovely print by illustrator Wayne Pate. Seeya!

5 quick questions: Alanna Cavanagh

Arren March 17, 2010

I've had a bit of a design crush on the work of ultra-talented illustrator and printmaker Alanna Cavanagh for quite a while, so I'm glad to have cornered her into answering 5 quick questions. You might have seen her illustrations in the likes of Real Simple and the New York Times, but most recently I saw her work hanging in the home of Bev Hisey, where after years of looking at an - imho - awful painting of a blobby lifeless figure floating in the ether, I was happy to see one of Alanna's gorgeous Big Orange Scissors prints sitting pretty on the wall instead. And for that Alanna, I really really have to thank you.

Below you'll find shots of both Big Orange Scissors and Brook Brothers Suit (Green), plus a behind-the-scenes snap of Alanna tea staining one of her Penguin Books cover prints. Next, a peek at Alanna's own place, a shot of a space that currently inspiring her, and finally a super cute portrait photo/illustration mash up. Click here to read more 5 quick questions! [Portrait photo:Janet Kimber]

Arren Williams: What's inspiring you right now?

Alanna Cavanagh: Josef Frank Textiles, Illustrations from the 1950s, the colour limey green, swiss miss blog, springy tulips, Selvedge magazine, Graphic designer Paul Rand, Decoupage artist John Derian, The Workroom on Queen West and most especially: my new 'hood Parkdale.

AW: Is there anything that drives you crazy when you walk into a space?

AC: If it's too white and minimal I don't feel comfortable. For me I need to be surrounded by lots of warm wood, cozy textiles, and piles of books to feel at home.

AW: What's the next thing you have your eyes on for your own house?

AC: I would love a velvet tufted couch in a jewel tone like turquoise - I'm on the look out for a used one. In the meantime I have my eyes directly set on Benjamin Moore's 'Florentine Plaster' paint. It'll soon be on the walls of my bathroom.

AW: How would you describe your look, and has it changed over the years?

AC: Fleamarket Chic with a dash of New Romantic!

I absolutely love a MIX: of high and low, traditional and modern, and new and old. I also love to include whimsical pieces like old birdcages, and vintage signs to make sure the space never feels too serious.

In terms of colour I always paint my walls grey (Benjamin Moore Chelsea Grey is a fave) and then add lots of juicy tones like pink and orange which really POP off the grey.

And of course I love displaying a lot of art. I've always been a sucker for a salon wall. Every time I see one in a magazine I rip it out. My style has always been the same but happily these days I have a bit more high to add to the low. :-)

AW: What's next on the horizon?

AC: I've just completed 3 new silk screen prints which you can find here on my website. I've also illustrated a campaign for Air New Zealand, and a book cover for Penguin books, and am now working on a tote bag design for Good Egg ( the wonderful food shop in Kensington market). Look out for it in June!

What's Spanish for wallpaper?

Arren February 17, 2010

One of the most recent wallpaper launches to make a splash is the Vital collection for Barcelona-based wallpaper firm Coordonné. Okay, what's so special about that? Well, it's the first foray into wallpaper by illustrator Jordi Labanda, and the first of Coordonné's new artist-designed series. The capsule collection shows all of Labanda's trademark fashionable wit, and includes papers wrapped around themes of make-up, 50's fashion plates, Damask silhouettes, and wild 70's inspired patterns. Yum.

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